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   68
 
 

Sone aftyr ther was at Lynne holdyn the chapetyl of the Frer Prechowrys, and 
thedir comyn many worschepful clerkys of that holy ordyr of whech it longyth on to 
seyn a sermown in the parisch cherch. And ther was come amongys other to the sayd 
chapetyl a worschepful doctowr whech hite Maistyr Custawns, and he had knowyn 
the forseyd creatur many yerys beforn. Whan the creatur herd seyn that he was comyn 
thedyr, sche went to hym and schewyd hym why sche cryed and wept so sor, to wetyn 
yyf he myth fyndyn any defawte in hir crying er in hir wepyng. The worschepful 
doctowr seyd to hir, "Margery, I have red of an holy woman whom God had govyn 
gret grace of wepyng and crying as he hath don onto yow. In the cherch ther sche 
dwellyd was a preyste whech had no conseyt in hir wepyng and cawsyd hir thorw hys 
steryng to gon owte of the cherche. Whan sche was in the cherch yerd, sche preyd 
God that the preyst myth have felyng of the grace that sche felt as wistly as it lay not 
in hir powyr to cryen ne wepyn but whan God wolde. And so sodeynly owr Lord sent 
hym devocyon at hys messe that he myth not mesuryn hymself, and than wolde he no 
more despisyn hir aftyr that but rathyr comfortyn hir." Thus the sayde doctowr, 
confermyng hir crying and hir wepyng, seyd it was a gracyows and a specyal gyft of 
God, and God was hyly to be magnifyed in hys gyft. And than the same doctowr went 
to an other doctowr of divinité whech was assygned to prechyn in the parisch cherche
befor al the pepil, prayng hym that yyf the sayd creatur cryid er wept at hys sermown
that he wolde suffyr it mekely and no thyng ben abaschyd therof ne not spekyn ther 
ageyns. So aftirward, whan the worschepful doctowr schulde prechyn and worthily was 
browt to the pulpit, as he began to prechyn ful holily and devowtly of owr Ladiis 
Assumpsyon, the sayd creatur, lyftyd up in hir mende be hy swetnesse and devocyon, 
brast owt wyth a lowde voys and cryid ful lowde and wept ful sor. The worschepful 
doctowr stod stille and suffyrd wol mekely tyl it was cesyd and sithyn seyd forth hys 
sermowne to an ende. At aftyrnoon he sent for the same creatur into place ther he was 
and mad hir rith glad cher. Than sche thankyd hym for hys mekenes and hys charité 
that he schewyd in supportacyon of hir crying and hir wepyng befor noon at hys 
sermown. The worschepful doctowr seyd ageyn to hir, "Margery, I wold not a spokyn 
ageyn yow thow ye had cryid tyl evyn. And ye wolde comyn to Norwich, ye schal be 
rith wolcom and han swech cher as I can make yow." Thus God sent hir good 
maystyrschep of this worthy doctowr to strengthyn hir ageyn hir detractorys, worschepid 
be hys name. Aftirward in Lenton prechyd a good clerk, a Frer Austyn, in hys owyn 
hows at Lynne, and had a gret audiens, wher that tyme was the sayd creatur present. 
And God of hys goodnes enspired the frer to prechyn mech of hys Passyon so 
compassyfly and so devowtly that sche myth not beryn it. Than fel sche down wepyng 
and crying so sor that meche of the pepil wondryd on hir and bannyd and cursyd hir 
ful sor, supposyng that sche myth a left hir crying yyf sche had wolde, inasmech as the 
good frer had so prechyd ther ageyn, as is beforn wretyn. And than this good man that 
prechyd as now at this tyme seyd to the pepil, "Frendys, beth stille, ye wote ful lityl 
what sche felyth." And so the pepil cesyd and was stille and herd up the sermown
wyth qwyet and rest of body and sowle.